HomeMy Public PortalAbout04.14.2007, Park Tour MinutesApril 14, 2007 (Annual Park Tour)
Medina Park Commission
Meeting Minutes for April 14, 2007
Special Meeting: Annual Park Tour
1. Call to Order: Chair Thies called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.
Role Call
Present: Ann Thies, Gerald Dykhoff, Madeleine Linck, Bob Pastor, Ben Benson, Brian
Kingsley
Absent: Galen Bruer (was present briefly during Hamel Legion Park tour)
Also Present: City Council members Carolyn Smith and Liz Weir, Mayor Tom Crosby,
Planning Commissioner Doug Dickerson, City Administrator Chad Adams, Public Works
Foreman Steve Scherer, Office Assistant to Administration Jodi Wunsch
2. Annual Park Tour
Hamel Legion Park
Main Plaza: After looking at the proposed stacked location of the plaza a few outstanding
questions where noted to discuss at the April 18th Park Commission Meeting.
1. Do the Park Commissioners want to build the plaza over all the utility lines?
2. Currently, when snow plowing on Mill Drive, snow is dumped where the plaza is being
proposed. Is this an issue?
3. Do we want to wait until the adjacent parcel is developed to incorporate its design into
the plaza?
4. Should the plaza be moved to the corner or keep it in front of the road as a trail head?
Memorial Plaza: The memorial plaza proposed location was in front of the Hamel Community
Building on the east side. This plaza is proposed to include a flag pole, veteran's memorial,
permeable pavers, and shrubs. Ideas generated from the memorial plaza are as follows:
1. The planting area should be mixed with shrubs and plants that have color all year round.
2. Connect the plaza to the community building sidewalk with stepping stones.
3. The proposed location is not the best view because it is right behind the parking lot light.
4. There are four options for the location of this plaza: east side, west side as proposed, west
side closer to main entrance, and west side closer to main plaza (away from building).
Playground Equipment & Basketball Court: There was discussion on going out for a RFP on
both the playground equipment and basketball court either together or separate. This would help
give the city a better design that incorporates the two projects. One concern was mentioned on
putting the playground equipment in a low area of the park because water would sit in the
playground equipment. Public works can fix that problem.
Other Items:
I. Paint the backboard of the baseball diamond. Have an art contest? Or, remove the
backboard, what is its purpose?
April 14, 2007 (Annual Park Tour)
2. Need to plant trees along the back side of the Hamel Community Building to shade the
building.
3. Trees should also be planted along the trail.
4. The park commissioners liked the proposed fire pit location.
Rainwater Park
Discussion surrounded the future use of Rainwater Park as a passive park and the timeline for
upcoming phases of the project. General consensus was to talk to Ryan Companies about
removing dirt to level off the top of the park. Also grading and planting needed to happen in
2007. We can wait on final design until next year when adjacent property possibly develops
because the developer is willing to help design the park. Additional outstanding comments were
as follows:
1. Snow dumping was preferred by the Elm Creek Watershed as a water runoff and water
quality control mechanism.
2. We need to talk to the railroad company about dumping their junk in their Right -of -Way
or get it cleaned up.
3. Keep non -bituminous natural foot trails. Could mow a path of grass if necessary.
4. One picnic table or bench would be nice towards the back of the park.
5. Dirt is a little high near the road and creates less view of the park. Move dirt to back side
or add plantings to hide the view of the rail road.
Hunter Lions Park
The main discussion at Hunter Lions Park was the need to burn the prairie in 2007. Jodi Wunsch
will contact the Loretto Fire Department and Al Olson with the DNR to look into costs and
proper procedure to discuss at the April 18th Park Commission Meeting. Other discussion
included:
1. Keeping the park signs and shelter color's consistent. Everyone seems to like the natural
brown and green colors.
2. General maintenance on the volleyball court includes bringing up sand and taking down
nets each winter.
3. Tennis court net needs to be re -aligned and the court needs to be resurfaced.
4. A trash receptacle is needed by the picnic shelter.
5. It was suggested to create some sort of volunteer program for cleaning up the parks.
Bridgewater/Lake Medina
Commissioners walked around the park trail and discussed burning the prairie. It was decided it
may be 1 or 2 years premature to burn the prairie. There was general consensus to keep this park
a passive natural area. It was suggested to add a few nesting boxes to the park. The main
outstanding issue was naming the park. A few ideas were: Medina Marsh Park, Medina Marsh
Preserve, Swamp Park, and Lake Medina Park. There was general consensus not to name it
Bridgewater Park.
April 14, 2007 (Annual Park Tour)
Tomann Property
Medina Resident Terry Tomann has a large parcel off Pioneer and Tomahawk Trail that is in a
permanent conservation easement. He has agreed to turn the property over to the city at any time
and he has requested help with the proper design and plantings in the park. The park commission
visited the parcel to get a better idea of what is all on this property.
Hidden Lake
Park Commissioners walked through Camp Ihduhapi to get a good view of Hidden Lake. Thies
explained how this lake is one of Medina's highest quality natural areas in the County. There is
one property that is encroaching on the lakeshore. There was general consensus to recommend to
the Council to put an ordinance in place to restrict future development near this lake. More
research is needed on what type of endangered animal and plant communities need to be
protected near Hidden Lake.
Maple Park, Walnut Park, and Lakeshore Park
The Park Commission drove past the three parks in Independence Beach to point them out but
did not stop.
Holy Name Lake / Park
Commissioners walked around the park and noted the poor condition of the picnic tables. There
was also a large erosion problem. Jodi Wunsch will contact Jon Barten with Three Rivers Park
District to see if he could look at the erosion problem and give the city some suggestions. Other
issues that were discussed:
1. Garbage needs to be picked up.
2. Install small pier to stand on.
3. Block off large access to the water, except small space for ice fish house access.
4. Do not mow so close to shoreline. Ask mowing company to stay 5 to 10 feet away to help
with geese problem.
5. Plant more Willows along shoreline.
6. Remove some of the smaller trees to be planted in other parks.
7. Larger trees need to be trimmed.
8. Put wood chip mulch around trees to protect from lawn mowing.
9. When fixing the erosion problem, we should use this park as a "Lake Scaping"
demonstration.
3. Adjourn at 12:15 p.m.
Submitted by:
Jodi Wunsch